When was the last time Bitcoin had an emergency hard fork?
Doesn't mean we won't need it in the future. What if we need one?
There has never been an emergency hardfork on Bitcoin.
For an emergency hardfork to happen on Bitcoin, would require an existential threat to the network. In those circumstances you better shut your channels right smart.
If the hard fork destroys the lighting network and you cannot close your channels in time, tough shit. The integrity of main net takes precedence and everyone knows it. Maybe you will lose your coins locked to lightning, maybe the person who gets them will be honourable and return them, maybe the hard fork will force close channels. Who knows. Lightning is intended for low value, high volume payments. It is not intended to be as secure as main net.
Security is expensive, horrifically so in a decentralised context. If you want strong security, don't put anything on lighting.
Keep in mind we are talking about a very low probability event. Bitcoin is riddled with low probability events that could destroy it. Quantum computing, global government ban, SHA-256 is broken, all intel/amd processors get backdoored etc etc.
I am not only talking about security threats.
What if we need to upgrade the network via hf? What if we suddenly decide to increase the block size? or implement some other feature which can only be added via hf?
I feel a bit trapped tbh.
People need to close their channels and gtfo immediately I see... At least there is a way but if the LN gets toooooooo big (i mean big corporation level big like microsoft, apple, mcdonalds and starbucks using it, that might be a problem.)